Measuring Welfare in Program Animals

Zoo Animals

Details

In a study supported
by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Conservation Endowment Fund,
Master’s student Bonnie Baird is conducting a multi-institutional study to
determine if there are any differences
in the stress hormone corticosterone and/or behavior
between armadillos that are maintained on exhibit versus those in education
programs.

She is also looking
at the effect of frequent handling on
those same measures in armadillos, hedgehogs, and red-tailed hawks.